The Botanical Magazine Volume Ii Part 9

CENTAUREA _glastifolia_ calycibus scariosis, foliis indivisis integerrimis decurrentibus. _Lin. Syst. Veg. p. 787._ _Gmelin Sib. 2.

p. 83._

CENTAURIUM majus orientale er.e.c.t.u.m, glasti folio, flore luteo. _Comm.

rar. 39. t. 39._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 62]

a.s.sumes the name of _glastifolia_ from the similitude which the leaves bear to those of the _Isatis tinctoria_, or _Woad_, _Glastum_ of the old Botanists.

In this plant we have an excellent example of the _Folium decurrens_ and _Calyx scariosus_ of LINNaeUS, the leaves also exhibit a curious phenomenon, having veins prominent on both their sides; the scales of the calyx are moreover distinguished by a beautiful silvery appearance, which it is difficult to represent in colours.

It is a native of the East, as well as of Siberia; flowers with us in July, in the open border, and is readily propagated by parting its roots in autumn, which are of the creeping kind: requires no particular treatment.

MILLER, in the last 4to edition of his Dictionary, enumerates a _Cent. glastifolia_; but his description in detail, by no means accords with the plant.

[63]

~Fragaria monophylla. One-Leaved Strawberry, or Strawberry of Versailles.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Icosandria Polygynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Calyx_ 10-fidus. _Petala_ 5. _Receptaculum_ feminum ovatum, baccatum, deciduum.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

FRAGARIA _monophylla_ foliis simplicibus. _Lin. Syst. Veg. p. 476._ _Le Fraisier de Versailles. d.u.c.h.esne Hist. nat. des Frais, p. 124._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 63]

The first mention made of this Strawberry, we find in d.u.c.h.eSNE'S _Histoire naturelle des Fraisiers_, where we have its complete history, and from which we learn, that it was originally raised by him at Versailles, in the Year 1761, from seeds of the Wood Strawberry.

From France this plant has been conveyed to most parts of Europe; how it has happened we know not, but it is certainly very little known in this country: in the 14th edit of the _Syst. Veg._ of LINNaeUS, it appears as a species under the name of _monophylla_, originally imposed on it by d.u.c.h.eSNE; LINNaeUS, however, has his doubts as to its being a species distinct from the _vesca_, and, in our humble opinion, not without reason; for it can certainly be regarded as a very singular variety only; its origin indeed is a proof of this; in addition to which we may observe, that plants raised from the runners will sometimes, though very rarely indeed, have three leaves instead of one: and it is observed by the very intelligent author of the _Hist. nat._ abovementioned, that seedling plants sometimes produced leaves with three divisions, like those of the Wood Strawberry. Besides the remarkable difference in the number of the leaves in this plant, the leaves themselves are observed to be much smaller in the winter season, and their ribs less branched; the runners also are slenderer and more productive, and the fruit in general more oblong or pyramidal. As an object of curiosity, this plant is deserving a place in every garden of any extent; nor is its singularity its only recommendation, its fruit being equal to that of the finest Wood Strawberry, with which it agrees in the time of its flowering, fruiting, and mode of treatment.

[64]

~Hemerocallis fulva. Tawny Day-Lily.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Hexandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ campanulata: tubo cylindrico. _Stamina_ declinata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

HEMEROCALLIS _fulva_ foliis lineari-subulatis carinatis, corollis fulvis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 339._

LILIUM rubrum asphodeli radice. _Bauh. Pin. 80._

The gold red Day-Lily. _Park. Parad. p. 148. t. 149. f. 5._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 64]

According to LINNaeUS, this species is a native of China.

It has long been inured to our climate, and few plants thrive better in any soil or situation, but a moist soil suits it best; its leaves on their first emerging from the ground, and for a considerable time afterwards, are of the most delicate green imaginable; the appearance which the plant a.s.sumes at this period of its growth is, indeed, so pleasing, that it may be said to const.i.tute one half of its beauty; its blossoms which appear in July and August, are twice the size of those of the _flava_, of a tawny orange colour, without gloss or smell, the Petals waved on the edge, the flowers are rarely or never succeeded by ripe Capsules as in the _flava_, which is a circ.u.mstance that has been noticed by PARKINSON; when these several characters, in which the _fulva_ differs so essentially from the _flava_, are attentively considered, we shall wonder that LINNaeUS could entertain an idea of their being varieties of each other.

The _Hemerocallis fulva_, from its size, and from the great multiplication of its roots, is best adapted to large gardens and plantations.

May be propagated by parting its roots in Autumn.

[65]

~Clematis integrifolia. Entire-Leaved Clematis, or Virgins-Bower.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Polyandria Polygynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cal._ 0. _Petala_ 4. rarius 5.--vel 6. _Sem._ caudata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

CLEMATIS _integrifolia_ foliis simplicibus ovato-lanceolatis, floribus cernuis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 512._

CLEMAt.i.tIS coerulea erecta. _Bauh. Pin. 300._

CLEMATIS coerulea Pannonica. The Hungarian Climer. _Park. Parad. p. 393._